is a tune the melody?

[Mothmig]

I am not musical so laymans terms please. When musicians talk about songs they often refer to the tune and the melody, are they the same thing but just different words to describe it or do they have a subtle difference.

[littleoldme]

It's a bit tricky, but as I understand it a tune is the actual progression or order of musical notes, and the melody is the end result (in other words, the whole thing). Melody is then combined with harmony and rhythm to make a piece of music.

I hope that makes some sense! ;-)

[Mothmig]

thanks little old me it makes a bit more sense - in simple terms then a tune that is say 4 notes ACBD could be two different melodies if the notes are played with different lengths and thus not sounding the same - i don't think i've got it yet.

[con-amca]

Have a look

here

[Mothmig]

Thanks baldhair I know all about melody now but no mention of tune until i got near the bottom of the page and it said on a caption to Ludwig's 9th

Figure 6: The tune of this theme will be very familiar to most people,

so what is the tune? it seems to be the melody too.

Sorry still haven't got it

[Vanilla Face]

As littleoldme said, a tune is a string of notes. The melody accompanies the tune ie/ a voice sings the tune and another voice will sing a few tones higher (harmony), thus producing a melodic tune.

[Mothmig]

thank you all for your help. It just doesn't compute for me. Anyone got any useful analogies or even got a musical example. you see Vanilla face if you sing a string of notes you are singing the tune (ie two old dears on the pier listening to 'Roll out the Barrel' "oh its a lovely tune" they'd say) and what subtle point are you also singing the melody (Fame academy voice coach says "this stevie wonder track has a fantasic melody"

maybe i should just stick to art.

[con-amca]

The tune is the melody. When you whistle
or hum along to a song, that's the melody.
Hum "God Save the Queen". That's the
melody. It's also the tune. The rest of it is
the harmony and the rhythm.

[Mothmig]

Thank you thank you baldhair. It is, as I suspected, one and the same thing as my original question suggests. I can sleep easy now knowing i'm not missing out on something. Now if only i could sing........